How to Choose a Wrestling Mat: Size, Thickness and Density
Size is determined not by preference but by the gym's floor area and the sport. We show how to choose the mat side length, thickness and density, and what affects the final cost.
·7 min read
A wrestling mat is chosen by four parameters: size, mat thickness, density and the type of fastening. A mistake in the first one means the mat runs into the walls of the gym; in the second and third, injuries and premature wear; in the fourth, a cover that “creeps” under load. Let’s go through them in order.
Size: what to base it on
Standard sizes are squares with sides of 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 meters. Calculate from the dimensions of the room, not from what you would like: a walkway must remain around the mat, and the walls in the fall zone must be covered with wall padding.
| Size | Area | Mats per set | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6×6 m | 36 m² | 18 | School gym, small club section, children’s group |
| 8×8 m | 64 m² | 32 | Club gym, training without competitions |
| 10×10 m | 100 m² | 50 | Youth sports school, gym with regular sparring |
| 11×11 m | 121 m² | 62 | Sambo competition format |
| 12×12 m | 144 m² | 72 | Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling competition format |
What the rules say about mat size
The size of a competition mat is not arbitrary. Just be careful not to mix up the sources: the international federation and the Russian rules give different figures.
Sambo
- FIAS rules. The mat consists of mats and a cover measuring 11×11 m. The working area where bouts take place is a circle 8 m in diameter, with the federation logo in a 1 m circle at the center. The mats are 5 cm thick. The platform under the mat must extend at least 1 m beyond it on every side.
- Rules of the sport “sambo” (Russian Ministry of Sport). A wider range: a mat from 11×11 to 14×14 m, a working-area circle from 6 to 9 m in diameter, and mat thickness of at least 5 cm.
FIAS also sets a separate density requirement: the technical specification for manufacturing sambo mats gives an average mat density of 180–200 kg/m³. This directly affects the choice of line: under this requirement, STANDARD and PROFI qualify for a competition mat, while START and JUNIOR are training lines. Our licensed FIAS and All-Russian Sambo Federation sets are built on 200 kg/m³ mats in the 11×11 m size.
Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling
The United World Wrestling mat licensing regulations specify a 12×12 m mat (or an octagon 12 m in diameter) 5–7 cm thick. Markings: the wrestling area is a circle 9 m in diameter, the central wrestling surface is 7 m, and the central circle is 1 m. The passivity zone is an orange band 1 m wide, and the protection area is 1.5 m. Our UWW-standard mat is made in exactly 12×12 m, on 220 kg/m³ mats.
What to do if your gym doesn’t fit a standard size
We make non-standard sizes for a specific room, including rectangular and L-shaped configurations. In this case the price is calculated per square meter rather than per set. For a gym with complex geometry, this is often cheaper than taking the next larger square and trimming it.
Thickness: 40 or 50 mm
There are two mat thicknesses in production. The difference is in the cushioning reserve when falling:
- 40 mm — the training standard. Schools, clubs and gyms where technique drills and training bouts take place.
- 50 mm — the competition format, and for gyms with constant high-amplitude throwing work. All licensed sets are made in 50 mm.
Saving on thickness in a gym where adult athletes are thrown every day is a bad idea: a 40 mm mat loses its resilience faster under such a load.
Density and product lines
Mat density is measured in kg/m³ and determines how deeply the surface compresses and how quickly it recovers. It is the main durability parameter: the higher the density, the longer the mat keeps its shape under daily use.
| Line | Density | Intended use | Wholesale from (6×6, 40 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| START | 150–160 kg/m³ | Schools and clubs. Judo, Greco-Roman wrestling | 40 970 ₽ |
| JUNIOR | 160–170 kg/m³ | Clubs and gyms. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling | 44 090 ₽ |
| STANDARD | 170–190 kg/m³ | Regional and national competitions. Sambo, combat sambo | 55 230 ₽ |
| PROFI | 200 kg/m³ | Olympic level. All types of wrestling | 71 780 ₽ |
The logic for choosing a line is simple: consider not the one-time price but the service life. For a gym that operates six days a week, ten hours a day, START will end up costing more than PROFI, because you will have to pay twice.
Fastening: so the mat doesn’t creep
The cover is secured in one of three ways:
- Grommets — metal rings sewn into the cover, which pull the mat down to the floor. Included in the price.
- Pockets — the edge mats slide into a pocket around the perimeter of the cover. An additional 2 530 ₽ for areas up to 36 m² and 4 210 ₽ above that.
- Velcro tape 10 cm wide around the perimeter — 200 ₽ per running meter. An option when the floor cannot be drilled.
How much a wrestling mat costs
The wholesale price of a 6×6 m set, 40 mm thick, starts at 40 970 ₽ for the START line and at 71 780 ₽ for PROFI. Non-standard sizes are priced per square meter: from 990 ₽/m² for START and from 1 780 ₽/m² for PROFI. Licensed competition sets are a separate category: the All-Russian Sambo Federation mat 11×11 m from 308 500 ₽, UWW 12×12 m from 342 100 ₽, FIAS 11×11 m from 436 400 ₽.
What else makes up the final amount:
- Cover sold separately — from 21 430 ₽ for 6×6 m to 76 080 ₽ for 12×12 m, if you already have the mats.
- Logo on the cover — 3 600–4 100 ₽ per m² of printed area.
- Installation — 5% of the contract value, but not less than 70 000 ₽. Supervised installation, where your own crew lays the mat under our supervision, is 5% of the value, but not less than 40 000 ₽.
Checklist before ordering
- Measure the gym and subtract the walkways around the perimeter to get the maximum side of the mat.
- Decide between a training and a competition format; this determines a thickness of 40 or 50 mm.
- Calculate the actual usage of the gym in hours; the density line is chosen based on it.
- Find out whether the floor can be drilled; the type of fastening depends on it.
- Decide whether you need the full set or only the cover / only the mats; these are different budgets.
- Check whether the walls in the fall zone are covered with padding: a mat without wall protection is only half the solution.
- Wrestling mats — full category — all lines and sizes
- START mat 6×6 m — schools and clubs
- STANDARD mat 10×10 m
- PROFI mat 12×12 m
- FIAS-licensed mat — sambo, 11×11 m
- UWW-standard mat — freestyle and Greco-Roman
Tell us your gym dimensions, sport and usage: we will select the line and mat size and calculate the set with fastening and installation. Manufactured in Dimitrovgrad, delivered across Russia.
In brief: frequently asked questions
What wrestling mat sizes are available?+
Standard sizes are 6x6, 8x8, 10x10, 11x11 and 12x12 m. That is 36, 64, 100, 121 and 144 m² respectively, i.e. sets of 18, 32, 50, 62 and 72 mats. A custom size is made for a specific room and priced per square meter.
What mat size is required for competitions?+
Under FIAS rules, a sambo mat is 11x11 m with a working circle 8 m in diameter; Russian sport rules allow a range from 11x11 to 14x14 m with a circle of 6 to 9 m. For freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, UWW regulations specify a 12x12 m mat with a 9 m diameter wrestling area. For a training gym these sizes are not mandatory; choose according to the room.
What wrestling mat thickness is needed?+
We produce mats in two thicknesses: 40 and 50 mm. 40 mm is used for training gyms, clubs and schools, 50 mm for competitions and intensive throwing. FIAS rules require competition mats to be 5 cm thick, and UWW regulations require 5 to 7 cm.
What is mat density and what does it affect?+
Density is measured in kg/m³ and determines how much a mat compresses under load and how quickly it recovers. In ROSSAMBO lines it is 150–160 kg/m³ (START), 160–170 (JUNIOR), 170–190 (STANDARD) and 200 kg/m³ (PROFI). The FIAS technical specification for manufacturing sambo mats requires an average mat density of 180–200 kg/m³, so STANDARD and PROFI qualify for a competition mat.
How much does a wrestling mat cost?+
The wholesale price of a 6x6 m set, 40 mm thick, starts at 40 970 ₽ for the START line and at 71 780 ₽ for PROFI. The final amount depends on size, thickness, line, fastening type and whether a mat cover is needed. An exact calculation is provided in a commercial quote.
Is a wrestling mat the mats or the cover?+
Both. The mat is assembled from mat sections, with a cover stretched over the top. You can order a full set, only the mats or only the cover, for example when the mats are still in good condition but the cover has worn out.
